COLUMBUS, Ohio — The moon has a date with Mercury early in the week. The two will be in Conjunction Monday morning.
On Monday evening after sunset, a young moon will be just above and left of the innermost planet. Just below the pair, you’ll find the asterism known as the Pleiades.
If you’re an early riser you can still find Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn in the east-southeast to the southeastern sky. Venus will be closest to the horizon and shining brightest.
If you’re out early on Friday morning lookup for the Eta Aquariid meteor shower. It peaks in the early morning hours and the moon will have set by then so viewing should be ideal.
The shower’s radiant is in the eastern sky and the show is caused by leftover debris from Halley’s Comet. If you can get to a dark spot, far away from the city you could be treated to as many as 50 meteors per hour.
Happy hunting!